The City of Dreams…

An eerie silence has replaced

The hubris of old

The vacant streets, shut down shops

A story forever to be remembered and told

The city of dreams, Mumbai

Forever bustling, a city which never sleeps

Today is locked down, uncertain for how long

As the majority silently ponders and weeps

The rich are hungry for action

The poor, simply hungry for food

The rest, enjoying affections at home

Fulfilling a hunger that they had never understood

It’s a pity you can’t travel out

A different side of the city you would have seen

The pristine white sand, the vast expanses of sea

Nature at its best, as beautiful as it’s ever been

One of the most beautiful cities in the world

It has something to offer for all

Minus the noise and the crowd

It still stands beautiful, proud and tall

Now’s the time to admire

Stunning architecture of the Victorian era

Or catch the fluttering of birds

Back again at the Gateway of India

Wish we could now go around the Marine Drive

Alongside which these days commerce thrives

Or go for a nature trail at National Park

Or see the evening lights in town, at full spark

Like a mesmerizing movie, absent the sound

Mumbai, now, would be fun to go around

You would oddly find calm, serenity and peace

In a city brought down to its knees!

It’s been close to a week already

Forced into a huddle at home

Blessings don’t come easy

As all of us have known

It’s like running hard on a treadmill

And then coming to a rude full stop

The momentum takes us forward a bit

Almost causes us to drop

You’ve traveled the trains maybe all your lives

Now, sit back and appreciate their role

And spare a thought for that podgy cop

Risking his life, out on patrol

We have yearned for this break all our lives

Cause we never knew how the treadmill would stop

Make the best use of this pause friend

Before you start the next hop

Spend quality time with family

Catch up on old friends

Or invest time into your own career

Get updated on the latest trends

There is so much to do

A new hobby, maybe, beckons you

Find your passion and pursue it

Bring out the best in you!

If you can’t enjoy, at least appreciate

If you can’t appreciate, at least adjust

Or suggest a solution to this plight

And if you can’t, then just be quiet

The city shall rise again

New dreams will be sold

This extraordinary period will never return though

But will forever be remembered and told!